spur nubbins

[gaillardia]

I am new to the chicken game and am paranoid that my pullets are roosters. Does the presence of little nubbins in the spur location mean that they are roosters? I have 1 Barred Rock, 1 RIR, and 1 Ameraucana that have nubbins (each is about 6 weeks old).

 

[canada-goose]

Not necessarily. Some hens get spurs too. Although, of course, 6 weeks is a bit early for pullets to be growing spurs.

Could you post some pictures?



Oh and welcome to the forum!

 

[aussieheelr]

how big are these "nubbins?" All my chickens have an obvious spot where a spur would grow if they were male but none truely have spurs. Infact my two roosters, well when I had them, didn't show true spur growth until they were about 6 months old.

 

[math ace]

Even hens can have spurs - - not just nubbins.

At 6 weeks we can tell more looking a picture of the head with good views of the comb / wattle area. Are you seeing anything red yet ? ?

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

All my 5 pullets had tiny little hard nubs by 3 weeks. Now they are 9 weeks, and the bumbs haven't changed much in size. I thought all chickens have some sort of "spur"...but it's just really tiny in hens. I've heard of hens getting spurs as big as a roosters though.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Spurs are one of the last things to develop in the boys, and as has been said, some hens have spurs. Spurs, and especially spur buds, are probably the least reliable means of determining gender.

 

[blueskylen]

i have a question about spurs too. -- can you cut them off of an adult rooster without hurting him? we just got a new roo, and he has the sharpest spurs i've ever seen and would like to dub them if possible.

 

[gaillardia]

I will post pictures when I get home tonight. Thanks folks.

 

[Mervin]

blueskylen,

There is a thread about trimming them that I read a while back. Here's a link

 

[chickenlover54]

All my chicks I have ever had had little tiny bumps, even the girls. Don't worry